The recent appointment of Craig Stammen as the new manager of the San Diego Padres has raised eyebrows across the league. The Padres are not alone in this trend; other teams including the Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Angels, Baltimore Orioles, and San Francisco Giants are also opting for untested managerial candidates.
Stammen, along with Blake Butera, Kurt Suzuki, Craig Albernaz, and Tony Vitello, represents a new wave of managers lacking Major League Baseball experience. Butera, who will manage the Nationals, is just 33 years old, making him the second youngest manager in the sport’s history.
Many of these franchises are choosing routes that are both youthful and budget-friendly. Vitello, for instance, has an outstanding collegiate coaching background at Tennessee but no professional experience. He recently signed a three-year contract with the Giants valued at $3.5 million per season, a move that’s raising questions given the stakes involved, especially with Buster Posey betting on this decision.
However, the unpredictability of sports can yield surprising outcomes. This sentiment was echoed by former manager Bud Black, who famously noted, “That’s why you play the games.”
As Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller introduced Stammen, he pondered the circumstances that led to this hire, highlighting a lack of managerial pedigree as a concern. Stammen, a former Padres pitcher with deep ties to the organization, steps into a significant and challenging role.
Complicating matters, the Seidler family has recently announced they are considering selling the team. In light of this, Padres chairman John Seidler reassured the fanbase, stating their dedication to winning a World Series while focusing on players, employees, and the community.
Interestingly, other teams have made different choices following the conclusion of the regular season. The Texas Rangers appointed Skip Schumaker, the Atlanta Braves hired Walt Weiss, and the Minnesota Twins selected Derek Shelton—all of whom have prior managerial experience that Stammen notably lacks. Meanwhile, the Colorado Rockies are still searching for their ideal candidate.
In selecting Stammen, the Padres diverged from the path of seeking redemption through experienced yet recently unsuccessful managers, such as Bruce Bochy, who had just been released by Texas after a successful but turbulent tenure.
Preller defended his decision, emphasizing Stammen’s familiarity with the organization and his potential to grow into the role. “He has a clear understanding of what’s been very good here,” Preller remarked, hinting at confidence in Stammen’s capabilities despite national skepticism about the appointment.
Since taking the reins as GM in August 2014, Preller has had mixed success, building high-caliber teams that excelled during the regular season but fell short in the playoffs, which ultimately led to the dismissal of manager Mike Shildt.
Stammen becomes the ninth manager under Preller’s leadership, a tenure that has included interim managers. Previous examples, like Dave Roberts and Pat Murphy, who both experienced varied success elsewhere, reflect the hit-or-miss nature of managerial hiring in the franchise’s history.
Even though Stammen’s contract spans three years, his predecessors—Jayce Tingler, Bob Melvin, and Shildt—did not last beyond two seasons each. Time will reveal if Preller’s investment in Stammen proves worthwhile, especially given his own dwindling job security, as his contract goes only through the 2026 season.
“There are numerous directions we could have taken,” Preller stated, hinting at a competitive field of managerial candidates, including the untested Albert Pujols. Stammen’s appointment illustrates an urgent desire to capitalize on what Preller perceives as a winning roster.
The historical track record for pitchers transitioning to managerial roles is not overwhelmingly positive. Black, for instance, struggled significantly as a manager despite a commendable career as a player, recording one of the lowest winning percentages among those managing over 2,500 games.
It’s a curious fact that only five pitchers have successfully managed their teams to a World Series title, with only Tommy Lasorda making it into the Hall of Fame—a testament to the challenges faced by pitchers in managerial capacities.
When asked if he harbored aspirations of being a manager during his playing days, Stammen admitted he had considered it briefly but recognized the stigma often attached to being a pitcher in that role.
Preller seems to hold an optimistic view of Stammen’s potential, hoping that his unique insights as a former player might translate into on-field success for the Padres. However, history suggests that the road ahead may not be so straightforward.
(This article has been updated to reflect the Seidlers’ exploration of selling the Padres.)
